Recoil-operated gun



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

. W. S. BURGESS.

REGOIL OPERATED GUN.

No. 591,155. Patented Oct. 5,1897.

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(No Model.) W S BURGESS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

REGIOIIL OPERATED GUN. No. 591,155. Patented Oct. 5,1897.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. W. S. BURGESS.

REGOIL OPERATED GUN.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W. S. BURGESS.

REGOIL OPERATED GUN.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM STARLING BURGESS, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

RECOlL-OPERATED GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591,155, dated October5, 1897. Application filed November 2, 1896. Serial No. 610,791. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM STARLING BURGESS, of Brookline, county ofNorfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inRapid-Fire or Machine Guns, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is

a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representinglike parts.

This invention has for its object .the production of a simple,direct-acting, rapid-fire or machine gun of that class wherein thecharges are delivered successively one after another to theloading-chamber from a suitable magazine, the recoil being utilized toautomatically reset the parts of and load the gun preparatory to thedischarge of the next shot. I have aimed to reduce the number of partsin so far as is compatible with accuracy and rapidity of operation, thussimplifying and reducing the mechanism without de-.

creasing the strength and integrity of the structure. I have shownherein a novel form of magazine as forming part of my invention, but itwill be understood that if desired any other suitable form of magazinemay be employed.

Various novel features of my invention will be hereinafter fullydescribed in the specification and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

Figure 1, in side elevation and partly broken out, represents a gunembodying my invention in loading position with the magazine in place.Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through thelongitudinal axis .of the barrel with the parts in firing position,

the magazine being omitted. Fig. 3 is a similar view, the magazine beingpartially shown and with-the parts of the gun in loading position andtaken on the line a; at, Fig. 7. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional viewof the main portion of the gun, taken on the longitudinal axis of thebarrel, with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is atransverse sectional view of the barrel and its support,

taken on the line as, Fig. 3, through the breech-chamber. Fig. 6 is atransverse sectional view of the gun on the line a"? 00 Fig. 3, throughthetrunnions. Fig. 7 is an enlarged top or plan view of a'portion of thegun, the front end thereof being broken off to save space, the magazinebeing shown in section. Fig. Sis a transverse sectional view of the rearend of the gun, through the back piece, on the line a a Fig. 3. Fig. 9is an enlarged perspective detail of the breechblock. Fig. 10 is anenlarged horizontal sectional view of the shell carrier or transferrer.Fig. 11 is a transverse section thereof on the line a a, Fig. 10. Fig. 2is a detail, partly in section, of the magazine-actuating pawl; and Fig.13 is a perspective view, broken out between its ends, of the gun-framedetached, the sheet-metal casing. being omittedat the rear end of theframe. Fig. 14 is a perspective detail view of the breech-block guideand barrel-jacket, the latter being broken 01f at its front end. Fig. 15is a longitudinal sectional view of the breech-block and parts carriedthereby, the breech-block and said parts being shown in the sameposition as in Fig. 3; and Fig. 16 is a like view showing thebreech-block in locked position and with the firing-pin ready to bereleased to fire the gun.

I have herein shown the gun-frame as comprising four rigid metal bars a,extended in parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the gun andpreferably square in cross-section,

rigidly secured at their ends to forgings a and a? in suitable manner,as by bolts or rivets 1 and 2, respectively, and also to an intermediatetrunnion-band a herein shown as by rivets 3, the said band havingsuitable trunnions a by which the gun may be supported on the head of atripod T, Fig. 1, or other desired form of mount.

As shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 8, the bars a of the frame are arranged inthe form of a rectangular figure, giving great strength with lightnessand providing ample space and support for the operative parts of thegun.

The forging a which may be termed the back piece, is shown in Figs. 8and 13 as enlarged at its upper end and recessed to receive the sidebars a, between the pairs of which at each side the breech block andbreech-block support or guide O to be described, are movable, the backpiece being cut out at a to receive the breech-block guide, the saidguide being rigidly attached to the gun-barrel, while the dependingportion a of said back piece provides a support for some of thecontrolling devices. A sheetmetal suitable strength,adj ustably attachedat their outer ends to the front plate a of the frame and at their innerends to the barrel extension or breech-block guide G bylaterallyextended lugs c thereon, the said lugs sliding between andbeing guided by the two side bars a at each side of the frame.

The barrel B, having a suitable bore b and breech-chamber b of suitableshape to receive the cartridge, is rigidly secured by shrinking or othersuitable means to a jacket 0, surrounding the barrel for a portion ofits length, and, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is square in cross-sectionto enter the space between the side bars a of the frame.

The jacket is provided at each side with laterally-extended lugs O,which enter between and are guided by the two bars a at each side of theframe, the lugs being extended adjacent the jacket at 5 to bear againstthe vertical inner faces of the side bars.

At the rear or inner end of the barrel the jacket is bifurcated andextended rearwardly through the back piece a the two sides of suchextension O forming a support orguide for the breechbl0ck, as will bedescribed, the inner faces of the extensions being recessed at c andprovided near their lower ends with shoulders c to receive and supportand guide the breech-block D. Fig. 9.)

The breech-block is shown as comprising a slide-bar d, which enters therecess c of its support, said slide-bar at its rear end having separateddownturned extensions cl, which rest and slide upon the longitudinalshoulders c on the breech-block guide O and the breech-block is cut outor recessed to form a longitudinal opening (1 enlarged between its(Shown separately in ends at (Z the inner faces of the extensions dbeing recessed at (1 Figs. 2, 3, and 8, forming curved shoulders (1 therecesses forming a chamber to receive a locking-block e, pivoted at e inthe breech-block and adapted to' enter when in looking position a notchc in the connecting portion 0 of the extensions O said cross-piece orconnecting portion being recessed at the rear of the notch to leave avertical shoulder 0 with which cooperates a dog e forming a part of thelocking-block e, when the latter is rocked, as will be described, by therecoil of the gun. At the instant of discharge the shoulders d transmitthe recoil shock from the breech-block through the lock e to thebreech-block guide O thereby causing the barrel and attached breechblock guide to recoil.

A lever f is pivotally connected at its lower end by a short link f tothe extension a of the back piece, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, the upperend of the lever being extended between the sides of the breech-blockguide O and having pivoted thereto at f 2 an arm f through an opening fof which is extended an upturned finger e forming a rigid part of thelocking-block e, the under side of the arm f being notched at f to beengaged by a detentf, pivoted at f in a slot at the rear end of thebreech-block and controlled by a spring 8.

The detent is provided with a laterally-offset toe f in the path of andto be engaged by a shoulder a on one of the extension-pieces or sides Oas clearly shown in Fig. 8.

The cross connection 0 0E the breech-block guide C is reduced in widthand downturned to form a foot 0 through which is extended a slide-rod fpivoted at f on the lever f, the lever-arm between f and f .beingsubstantially twice as great as the length of 'the leenlargement orflange f thereon at the rear of the foot 0 a spiral spring 3'surrounding the rod between the front of the foot and an adjustablecollar f, held on the threaded front end of the slide-rod.

The flattened portion 01 of the breech-block has upon its under side alongitudinally-extend'ed rounded tubular portion (1 to inclose thefiring-pin g, (see Figs. 2, 3, and 11,) the forward end of the part (1being transversely recessed at its under side at 61 while the tubularenlargement is carried beyond the breech-block, as at d", Fig. 9, andcylindrical in form to enter and close the breech-chamber when thecartridge is in place.

Cartridge-gripping jaws j are pivoted at to the-breech-block in therecess (1 one at each side of the tubular extension (1 said jaws attheir forward ends being slightly concaved longitudinally at j Fig. 10,to embrace the sides of the cartridge-case. The jaws are normallyseparated by suitable leaf-springs s interposed between them and theprojecting part (1 as clearly shown in Fig. 10, the

jaws and enlargement being preferably recessed to hold the springs inplace. The jaws are extended rearwardly beyond their pivots and inturnedat 7' to enter small holes (1 in the tubular enlargement (Z of thebreechblock, the said ends j of the jaws cooperating with and beingcontrolled by the firingpin, which is reduced in diameter at g andenlarged to elliptical form in cross-section at g at its front end.

By referring to Fig. 10 it will be obvious that when the firing-pin isdrawn back, or to the left viewing said figure, the. gradual enlargement thereof will act upon the inturned ends j of the gripping-jawsto separate them and thereby close the outer or gripping faces of thejaws upon a cartridge H, the shoul- IIO dersj formed at the inner endsof the gripping-faces, closing over the usual base-ring or enlargementof the cartridge-case to extract the latter after firing.

The firing pin is extended through the breech-block into the recess dtherein and has secured thereto a block 9 acted upon by a suitablefiring-spring s rigidly secured at one end to a pin 9 in thebreech-block.

The block 9 has extended rearwardly therefrom a latch 9 to be engagedwhen the firingpin is withdrawn by a suitable notched :sear g pivoted atg to the breech-block and normally held by a spring 8 against a stop-pinor projection 12, the scar being released or tripped by a suitable wiper25, fast on a rockshaft t, supported in suitable bearings I? on thegun-frame and actuated by a trigger T of suitable construction, movementof the triggercausing the wiper t to wipe over and depress the tail ofthe sear when the latter is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 16, tothereby trip the sear, releasing the latch g and permitting thefiring-spring s to throw the firing-pin and fire the cartridge.

By referring to Figs. 3 and 15, wherein the parts of the gun are'shownin extended position ready to load, it will be seen that the firing-pinis, relatively to the breech-block, in firing position, and it will beobvious that said firing-pinmust be withdrawn in the breech block intothe retracted position shown in Figs. 2 and 16 in engagement with thesear before the cartridge is inserted in the barrel.

Referring now to Fig. 2, let it be supposed that the gun is fired. Thenthefiring-pin, having been thrown forward by its actuatingspring 3 untilit strikes the cartridge, assumes a position relative to thebreech-block substantially as shown in Fig. 3. At the in stant ofdischarge, however, the recoil of the gun acts, through the breech-blockand lock e, upon the foot C forming a part of the breech-block guideC tothrow the lever f from the position shown in Fig. 2 in the direction ofthe arrow 25. The upper end of the lever moving more rapidly acts,through its arm f to turn the locking-block c on its fulcrum e, the doge acting upon the vertical shoulder c as soon as the block leaves itsholding-recess c to slowly move the breechblock relatively to its guideto thereby start the cartridge from the breech-block chamber, suchretarded movement of the breech-block continuing until the shoulders f Xon the arm 1" engage the lowermost shoulders 20 of the enlarged part (1of the recess in the breechblock. Thereafter as the upper end of thelever f continues to move in the direction of the arrow 25, Fig. 2, thebreech-block must move in unison therewith, and such movement of thebreech-block continues until the gradually-decreasing force of therecoil is equalized by the tension of the retractingsprings S, the partsin such position being slightly farther to the left than as shown inFig. 3. Just after the initial movement of the breech-block describedthe notch f of the arm f moves past the detentf", and when the outwardmovement of the breech-block ceases and its inward movement begins, dueto the tension of the retracting-springs S, the detent enters the notch,as shown in Fig. 3, so that the locking-block 6 will be held in theposition shown in Fig. 3 until positively released, and the breech-blockmust travel in unison with the upper end of the lever f.

' The breech-block and firing-pin will start in unison in the directionof the arrow 30,.

Fig. 3, and the firing-pin is not retracted relatively to thebreech-block until a springcontrolled locking-pawl g on the block gengages the shoulder c on the breech-block guide C thereby retarding orholding the tiring-pin until the sear 9 carried by the breech-block,advances far enough to engage the latch g and the beveled end of thelocking-pawl g is then engaged and tripped by a pin 18 on thebreech-block, the tripped pawl being shown clearly in Fig. 2 with thesear in engagement with the firing-pin latch g After the trip of thepawl g the firingpin and breech-block continue their movement togetheruntil the toe f 8 of the detent f in turn is engaged by the shoulder 0withdrawing the detent from engagement with the arm f and disconnectingthe lever f and breech block, the latter then closing the breech, andthe continued movement of the lever f then acts to turn thelocking-block e from its fulcrum into engagement with the locking-notch,c

The spring 8 will act as a buffer or cushion for the barrel to preventshock as the breech of the barrel is closed by the breechblock, it beingremembered that the lower end of the lever f has its fulcrum fixed orstationary. The spring 3' is of such strength that during almost theentire inward movement of the breech-block and guide the flange f willbe held against the foot 0 and when the breech-block is fully enteredinto the breech the upper end of the lever cannot move fartherrelatively to the breech-block guide O and should the barrel and theattached breech-block guide tend to move still farther forward, due toits inertia, then the spring 8' would be compressed by the foot 0 movingwith the barrel, and said spring would then act as a bufier or cushion.

The breech-block guide O is provided with a cartridge-support 0 toreceive a fresh cartridge from the magazine, to be described, thesupport being so located that the plate portion d of the breech-blockslides back and forth over said support in the movement of the block.

When the gun is in firing position, Fig. 2, the breech-block is shown asextended over the cartridge-support, and when the breechblock movesforward from the position shown in Fig. 3 the jaws j thereof will engageand grip the cartridge then on the support,- the closing of the jawsbeing effected by retraction of the firing-pin g, as has been described.

After the cartridge is gripped forward movement of the breech-block willtransfer the cartridge from the support 0" across the open space 0between it and the breech of the barrel, and the cartridge will finallybe inserted in the breech-chamber b. The support 0 is below a horizontalline passing through the .bore of the barrel, in order that theforwardly-extended portion d of the breech-block can slide over saidsupport in its return movement, and the nose of the projectile will liftslightly on entering the breech-chamber to properly position theprojectile.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be seen that the breech-chamber islaterally recessed at b to receive the forward ends of the jaws as theyare closed upon the cartridge, while the tubular portion d of thebreech-block enters and completely closes the rear end of the chamber.

When the gun is discharged, the firing-pin g is thrown forward by itsspring 3 so that the enlarged portion 9 thereof is moved toward theouter ends of the jaws and bringing the reduced portion 9' opposite theinturned ends 3" of said jaws, so that when the breechblock isretracted, as has been described, the jaw-springs s will open them assoon as they pass beyond the retaining-walls (see Fig. 4) of thebreech-block guide immediately at the rear of the breech of the barrel,so that the empty cartridge-case will not be released by the grippersuntil it is sulficiently'withdrawn from the breech-chamber to insure itsdischarge therefrom through the opening 0 described.

be described.

The magazine consists, essentially, of a cylinder M, closed at its lowerend, except for the elongated radially-disposed opening an, and providedwith a foot M, shown in Fig. 3 as extended into a suitable recess in thetrunnion-ring a the cylinder at its opposite side having an exterior lugto form a slightlyconcaved seat m for the eccentrically-mountedlocking-stud m on a yoke m pivoted at m on the gun-frame, the eccentriclockingstud m having a suitable handle m If the handle is turned down tothe left, Fig. 3, the stud will be rocked to lift it from its seat m andthe yoke m can be turned upon its pivot to withdraw the locking-stud, sothat the magazine maybe removed, when desired, for recharging orrefilling.

The bottom of the cylinder M hasan upturned central boss m to support agrid m, mounted to rotate on a vertical pin or stud m the said grid, asbest shown in Fig. 7, having a series of radial openings or pockets mtherein of such shape and size as to permit the passage therethrough ofa single car- -position above the chute 0.

tridge at a time, the depth of the grid being about equal to thediameter of the cartridge.

Upon the interior of the cylinder M are secured in suitable manner aseries of stalls N, each stall being preferably composed of sheet metalor suitable light material and in crosssection, as shown in Fig. 7,having a shape approximating that of a cartridge. These stalls extendfrom just above the grid m to substantially the upper end of thecylinder M,

and when the magazine is charged each stall is filled with a series ofcartridges, resting one upon another, the. lowermost cartridge of theseries, however, entering the pocket m of the grid which is beneath thestall, and thus supporting the superimposed cartridges in thatparticular stall.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that if the grid isrotated intermittingly to bring one pocket after another over thedischarge-chute 0. the pockets will each discharge a cartridge therefrominto the chute.

There is no stall in the magazine immediately above the discharge-chutea and when a cartridge is discharged from the grid, which is practicallya carrier or transferrer, the empty pocket at the next movement of thetransferrer will be moved beneath the stall next beyond to receivetherefrom the lowermost cartridge of its series, and that cartridgewould make one nearly complete revolution with the transferrer beforebeing brought into It will be seen, therefore, that the first stallbeyond the discharge-opening m of the magazine will be the first stallemptied, and then the second stall will be emptied, then the third, andso on until the cartridges have been transferred from all of the stallsin the magazine to the cartridge-support 0 The cylinder M has mountedtherein a shaft n, transverse to the length of the gun and providedinside the cylinder with a cam 01/ in engagement with an arm n pivotedat one end at n on the cylinder-wall and slotted or forked at n at itsother end to receive a slide-rod n vertically movable in the bearing mon the cylinder and normally depressed by a spring 8 the upper end ofwhich may be held against the top or cap of the cylinder.

The slide-rod n is located in the vertical plane of the discharge-opening m of the magazine and is headed at its lower end at n to yieldinglybear upon a cartridge on its support 0 and retain it in place untilfirmly gripped by the jaws carried by the breech-block.

The rock-shaft n is extended through the wall of the magazine-cylinder Mand has fast thereon a rocker-arm M, the lower end of which is engagedby a suitable yoke n suit-- ably bolted to the breech-block guide tomove therewith and from which it may be readily detached when it isdesired to remove the barrel from the frame.

When the barrel and breech-block guide move forward, the rock-shaft nwill be partially rotated to lift the cam n and thereby the arm 71?, thelatter raising the headed slide rod 02, from engagement with thecartridge, as the latter is then firmly held by the gripping-jaws, andthe slide-rod continues to rise until its head assumes about thedotted-line position n", Fig. 3.

The transferrer or grid m is provided with a series of peripheral pinsor projections 111, which are exposed through a horizontal slot in thewall of the cylinder M to the action of a spring-pawl m mounted in cars72 on the rocker-arm n and controlled by a suitable spring 5 Just as thehead or of the slide-rod clears the top of the grid or transferrer thepawl m will engage one of the projections m of the transferrer, and asthe rocker-arm n completes its movement, due to the movement of thebreech-block guide, the transferrer will be rotated one step, orsufficiently to bring a new pocket over the discharge-opening m. Asuitable detent-pawl m prevents retrograde motion of the transferrer asthe arm n is swung back by the recoil into the position shown in Fig. 1and the pawl m clicks back ready to engage the next succeedingprojection on the following forward stroke of the rocker-arm. When therocker-arm swings rearwardly, the cam 'n is depressed, permitting thespring 5 to act upon the slide-rod n and follow the transferredcartridge down through the chute (it onto the support 0 as soon as theportion b of the breech-block slides back from off the support.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, 15, and 16, I have shown a cover-plate Dsecured to the rear end of the breech-block and covering or protectingthe mechanism carried by said block between the depending portions dthereof, the cover-plate being cut away at 80 to permit the passagetherethrough of the upturned end of the sear g to allow the wiper t tocooperate therewith, said cover-plate also having a' suitable opening toaccommodate the upturned portion 6 of the locking-block.

. A suitable shoulder-rest R (shown only in Fig. 1) is secured to thegun-frame and is adapted to be held against the shoulder of the operatorwhen the, gun is in use in order to train or direct the gun, as may bedesired. Suitable sights will be providedin usual manner, and to preventaccidental movement of the trigger the same is protected by a guard Tpartly broken out in Fig. 7 and only indicated by dotted lines in Fig.3.

The trigger is provided with a trigger-spring S (see dotted lines, Fig.3, and full lines, Fig. 7,) tending to normally retain the trigger andwiper t in the position shown in Fig. 2.

If the dotted-line position of the wiper in Fig. 2 is referred to, itwill be seen that by holding the trigger retracted the gun will operateautomatically, for the portion g of the sear will be engaged by thewiper at every forward or firing movement of the breechblock to therebyrelease the firing-pin and discharge the gun.

Inasmuch as the operation of the gun mechanism is due to the recoil itisnecessary before firing the first shot to draw back the breech-block andbreech-block guide into the position shown in Fig. l by hand, and forthis purpose I. have secured a suitable handhold or grip G to one sideof the breech-block guide 0". In order, therefore, to begin firing, theoperator will first grasp the handhold G and draw the breech-block guiderearwardly until a cartridge has been transferred from the magazine tothe cartridge-support 0 whereupon the handhold is released and the gunloaded by virtue of the recoil-springs S. Thereafter the gun willautomatically load after each shot fired, as has been hereinbeforedescribed. 1

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction andarrangement herein shown, as the same may be modified without departingfrom the spirit and scope of my invention.

If desired or found necessary, the barrel may be provided with awater-jacket of any usual or suitable construction.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-" a 1. In .a machine-gun, a supporting-frame, thebarrel longitudinally movable therein, a barrel-retracting spring, meansto at times lock the barrel and breech-block from relative movement, aspring-controlled firing-pin carried by the breech-block, outwardlymovable therewith, cocking mechanism for the pin, automatically operatedupon return of the breech-block, a manually-controlled releasing devicefor said mechanism, actuating mechanism for the breech-block governed bythe recoil,and connections between saidm echanism and the locking means,to control the latter, substantially as described.

2. In a machine-gun, abreech-block reciprocable in the direction of thelength of the barrel, and moved'in one direction by-the recoil, means topositively move it .in the opposite direction, a spring-controlledfiring-pin longitudinally movable in said block, mechanism to retain thefiring-pin stationary during a portion of such latter movement of thebreech-block, a releasing device for the pin, operative when thebreech-block is locked, and a locking device for said breech-block toretain it in firing position, substantially as described.

3. Ina machine-gun, a longitudinally-movmeans, combined with meanscarried by the breech-block to positively retain the locking deviceinoperative during the return movement of the breech-block, and a tripto release the locking device when the breechblock reaches the end ofsuch movement, substantially as described.

4. Inamachine-gun, a longitudinally-movable breech-block guide, abreech-block reciprocable thereon, means, actuated by the recoil, tomove the breech-block and guide outwardly at difierent speeds, a detentfor the breech-block, operative during a portion of its inward movement,alocking device for the breech-block, governed by said actuating means,and a trip for the detent, substantially as described.

5. Inamachine-gun, a longitudinally-movable breech-block guide, abreech-block reciprocable thereon, a spring-controlled firin gpinlongitudinally movable in said breechblock, the barrel rigidly attachedto the said guide, a supporting-frame in which the barrel and guide aremovable, mechanism to cock -or set the firing-pin on the inward movementof the breechblock, means, actuated by the recoil, to move thebreech-block outwardly and relatively to its guide, a retracting-springto efiect the return of the barrel and guide to normal position, tothereby move the breechblock inward, and a releasing device for thefiring-pin, substantially as described.

6. In a machine-gun, a breech-block reciprocable-in the direction of thelength of the barrel, means controlled by the recoil to actuate thebreech-block, a firing-pin longitudinally movable in said breech-block,its actuating-spring,a sear mounted on the block,

a cooperating latch on the firing-pin, and

means to hold the firing-pin stationary relatively to the breech-blockon the inward movement of the latter, substantially'asdescribed.

7. In a machine-gun, a breech-block reciprocable in the direction of thelength of the barrel, means controlled by the recoil to actuate thebreech-block, a spring-controlled firing-pin longitudinally movable insaid breech-block, means to set or cock the pin on the inward movementof the breech-block, and a scar and cooperating latch, to retain thefiring-pin cocked, substantially as described.

8. In a machine-gun, a breech-block reciprocable in the direction of thelength of the barrel, means controlled by the recoil to actuate thebreech-block, a spring-controlled firing pin longitudinally movable insaid breech-block, means to set or cook the pin on the inward movementof the breech-block, and a trip for said means, a sear and cooperatinglatch, to retain the pin cocked, and means controlled by a trigger todisengage the scar and latch, substantially as described.

9. In a machine-gun, a breech-block guide, a breech-block reciprocablethereon, a springcontrolled firing-pin longitudinally movable in saidbreech-block, means to automatically set it on the inward movement ofthe breechblock, means actuated by the recoil to operate thebreech-block, cartridge-gripping devices mounted on the latter, to gripa cartridge, insert it in the barrel, and eject the empty shell, andmeans, controlled jointly by movement of the breech-block and firing-pinto operate said gripping devices, substantially as described.

10. In a machine-gun, the barrel and attached breech-block guide, abreech-block reciprocable in the latter, a supporting-frame on which thebarrel and guide are longitudinally movable, retractile springs for thebarrel, means, actuated by the recoil, to move the breech-blockoutwardly, and a buffer forming a part of said means to cushion thereturn of the barrel to firing position, substantially as described.

11. In a machine-gun, the barrel and attached bifurcated breech-blockguide provided with a shoulder, a breech-block reciprocable in andbetween the sides of the latter, a supporting-frame on which the barreland guide are longitudinally movable, retractile springs for the barrel,means, actuated by the recoil, to move the breech-block out-' wardly, alocking device pivotally mounted on the block to at times lock thebreech-block to its guide, a dog, forming a part of said locking'deviceandmeans to rock said device to bring the dog into engagement with theshoulder and thereby effect a slow initial movement to the breech-blockand guide in unison and to thereafter fully release the locking device,substantially as described.

12. In a machine-gun, an open supportingframe, comprising upper andlower side bars in parallelism, end pieces and a trunnionring rigidlysecured thereto, a barrel, and a breech-block guide rigidly attachedthereto, both longitudinally movable on said frame and within the sidebars thereof, a breechblock reciprocable on its guide, a retractilespring, and a bufier for the barrel upon its return to normal position,substantially as described.

13. In a machine-gun, a longitudinallymovable bifurcated breech-blockguide, a breech block reciprocable within the side walls thereof, meansactuated by the recoil, to move said guide and block outward, said meansincluding an accelerating-lever yieldin gly connected between its endsto the guide, and connections between the free end of the lever andbreech-block, to start the latter slowly, and thereafter to increase thespeed of the breech-block relatively to the guide, and aretractilespring to return the said guide to normal position, substantially asdescribed.

14. In a machine-gun,a breech-block,means actuated by the recoil, tocause it to recipro cate in the direction of the length of the barrel, afiring-pin, a device fixed relatively to the breech-block to move thefiring-pin into cooking position at or near the beginning of the returnmovement of the breech-block, means carried by the breech-block tothereafter move forward, engage and retain the IIC said retaining means,whereby the gun may be discharged automatically or at will,substantially as described.

15. In a machine-gun,the barrel, a breechblock guide movable therewith,and having a locking-notch, a reciprocating recessed breech-block,having curved shoulders, a locking-block pivoted in the recess to restagainst the curved shoulders and enter the notch, to thereby look thebreech-block to the guide, accelerating mechanism to reciprocate thebreech-block relatively to the guide, connections between said mechanismand the locking-block to rock the latter, and unlock said guide andbreech-block, the shoulders transmitting the recoil shock through the1ocking-block to the guide, and retractile springs to control the recoilof the barrel, substantially as described.

16. A magazine for machine-guns, comprisin ga fixed cylindrical casehaving a dischargeopening in its lower end, an intermittinglymovabletransferrer movable over said lower end and having open, cartridge-receiving pockets, means to support a series of superposed cartridgesin the case above the transferrer to deliver the cartridges one by oneto the latter, a follower reciprocable in line with thedischarge-opening of the case, to follow a discharged cartridge throughsaid opening, and means to reciprocate the follower, substantially asdescribed.

17. In a machine-gun, a breech-block reciprocable in alinement with thebarrel, devices carried by said breech-block to grip a cartridge andinsert it in the breech-.cham

ber, a cartridge-magazine having a dischargeopening, a support locatedbelow the opening to receive a cartridge from the magazine and supportit until engaged by the gripping devices, a transferrerto delivercartridges one by one to the discharge-opening of the magazine, andmeans to actuate the transferrer intermittingly, substantially asdescribed.

18. In a machine-gun, a stationary magazine having a discharge-openingin its lower end, a transferrer to deliver cartridges singly to saidopening, a support below the opening, to receive and sustain a cartridgedischarged from the magazine, means operative by the recoil, to actuatethe transferrer, and a carrier to en gage a supported cartridge, andconvey it to the breech-chamber, substantially as described.

19. In a machine-gun, a stationary magazine having a discharge-openingin its lower end, a transferrer to deliver cartridges singly to saidopening, a support below the opening, to receive and sustain a cartridgedischarged from the magazine, a follower to yieldingly retain acartridge on its support, means operative by the recoil, to operate thetransferrer and follower intermittingly, and a carrier to positivelyengage a supported cartridge and convey it to the breech-chamber,substantially as described.

20. In a machine-gun, the barrel having a breech-chamber provided withlateral recesses, a cartridge-support, a cartridge-carrier having jawsto grip and hold a supported cartridge and convey it to thebreech-chamber, means to retain the jaws closed until the empty shellhas been withdrawn from the breech-chamber, and mechanism controlled bythe recoil, to reciprocate the carrier and operate the jaws, the latterentering the lateral recesses of the breech-chamber when the cartridgeis therein, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nameto this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM STARLING BURGESS;

Witnesses:

JOHN G. EDWARDS, ALEX. C. PROUDFIT.

